Addressing Two Problems at Par: Human Resources for Health Crisis and Inability to Pay School Fees for Nursing Candidates in Tanzania

Abstract

Tanzania is currently experiencing a critical shortage of Human Resources for Health of about 49% [1]. On Average, there are only 14.5 health professionals per 10,000 population, which is far below the agreed WHO standard of 23 per 10,000 population. Of great interest, and out of this, the density of Nurse Midwives (NMs) to population is at 3 per 10,000 population (same to 0.35NM per 1000 population) of which it is far below the WHO recommended standards of 3 Nurse Midwives (NM) per 1000 population. Numerically, the current shortage of Nurse Midwives (NM) stands at least 12,525 [2]. There is equilibrium mismatch between the supply of Nurse Midwives and Demand for in the health facility as well as in the community health systems. Facilities in urban areas are in better chance to receive a good number of NMs compared to those in rural areasfactors like remoteness, poor living environment and working environments, and drop out and retiring exacerbate the shortage.